Surviving without God

Moon Wolf — a 6th hierarchy vampire.

In the world of , hierarchy is the measure of how close a mortal has come to the divine threshold. Before the Seven Evil Gods sealed the “Gate of Ascension,” reaching the 5th hierarchy allowed one to attain “Divine Status,” so climbing this ladder is an extraordinarily difficult task.

Of course, hierarchy does not represent absolute combat power. There are always irregulars like Gunther Sirhe, who, standing at the very edge of the 3rd hierarchy, could butcher several 5th-tier opponents at once. But in the overwhelming majority of cases, hierarchy determines one’s “weight class.”

The approximate distinctions are as follows:

1st hierarchy. Ordinary soldiers, apprentice knights, experienced mercenaries — or even those weaker. They possess hardened bodies and skills, but everything remains within the bounds of “normality.” Most untalented people end their lives at this level, never managing to form a contract with the gods.

2nd hierarchy. Those who have begun shedding the shell of mediocrity. Promising knights or those with enough talent to touch magic. A clear gap exists between them and common fighters; they can take on groups of enemies. Forming a contract with the gods is not difficult for them, but their names are not yet widely known.

3rd hierarchy. In a word — “those who lead others.” Leaders of small mercenary units, strong individuals known within villages or towns. Beings capable of turning the tide of a small battle. Gods sometimes send them invitations themselves, and such fighters are welcomed anywhere. Around Gunther, they may seem commonplace, but in reality this is a rare weight class. A level reached by those once called geniuses or prodigies in their homeland.

4th hierarchy. The strongest fighters on a city scale. Most members of Gunther’s platoon now stand at this line. In border cities they are not uncommon, but in an ordinary city such a person is a rare treasure. Super-elite knights like Albern or the Barkel twins also belong to the 4th hierarchy. If the opponent lacks sufficient level, even ten of them would not be enough to defeat such a fighter — and from this stage onward, the gap in individual power becomes enormous.

5th hierarchy. Rulers of cities. This is the domain of Cheonmae, Raymond, Audrey, Albino, and the head of the Society of Holy Flame, Verion. As mentioned, at this level a person stands so close to a god that they could once have “ascended.” They are capable of drawing far more deeply from their patron deity’s power. Among current allies, Parco, after numerous enhancements, is closest to the 5th hierarchy, and before him, Tarsha had been the primary candidate. This is effectively the highest point a human can reach through talent alone.

And finally...

6th hierarchy. Power on a national scale. “Beings outside categories,” of which an entire country might have only one or two. Naturally, they can no longer be considered a “personal combat unit.” The Apostle of Justice, the full Apostles of the past, Moon Wolf. Most current High Throne-ranked gods also belonged to this category in their human lives. Beings that are closer to gods than to humans.

“...Dominic, after undergoing harsh enhancement routines within Luthien, may not only step beyond the 6th, but even set his sights on the 7th hierarchy.”

In any case, the point is this. Using Moon Wolf’s abilities comes with limitations. There are conditions, there are costs. But to wipe out these pirates... a fragment of the “Black Wind” — her power was more than enough.

Flap—

The crimson silhouette leapt from the mast of the pirate flagship. It was not a fall. She halted in midair, as if stepping onto the sea fog itself. That was when the pirates erupted into screams.

— Fire! Fire, you bastards!

— What are you standing around for?! Want to die?!

— Forget the sails, shoot her!

Sailors are superstitious by nature. Red hair, blood-red eyes, and the incomprehensible sight of a figure standing atop the fog awakened primal terror. Bowstrings tightened, magical pistols clicked. Cannon muzzles swung toward her all at once.

Threats came from every direction, but Moon Wolf merely lazily raised her hand.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh—

A swarm of bats engulfed the shooters. Blinded them. Bit into their wrists. Bows and pistols clattered onto the deck. Guns fired wildly as their triggers were pulled blindly.

— Aaaah! Idiot, where are you shooting?!

— My stomach... my stomach...

Another swarm slipped into the cannon barrels. They detonated themselves inside, where charges and mana stones had already been prepared.

Boom—!

The cannons exploded from within. Metal fragments and flames consumed everything nearby.

— Aaaaaah!

The bats flooded the lower deck as well, where the rowers and magical engines were located. Panicked rowers jerked their oars out of sync; the ship spun in place, completely ruining their aim.

— What the hell are you doing, idiots?! Why are you firing at us?!

— Get a grip!

But... veterans remained veterans. Even in that chaos, many still managed to complete their aim.

Whiiiii—

Dozens of arrows, magical shells, and cannonballs converged on a single point. At the moment when the knights of Valloren and the sailors held their breath—

Boom—!

An umbrella opened.

Moon Wolf, raising an umbrella against the incoming storm of fire, looked utterly reckless. Yet in that instant—

Wuuuuun—

A deep crimson aura spread rapidly along the ribs of the umbrella. The amount of energy was such that it was hard to believe it came from a single person.

Arrows passing through that veil vanished. Magical bullets melted like butter. Cannonballs lost momentum and froze midair. Every attack lost its force before that barrier.

Tap—

Moon Wolf landed lightly on the ship’s railing. The umbrella closed. Her silhouette swayed slightly.

— Hit her! The monster’s exhausted!

— Fire! Don’t be fooled by her appearance!

At that moment, Gunther, fully cheering for his commander, clicked his tongue.

“...Not bad. They really are elite.”

If they were ordinary pirates, they would have already turned their ships and fled, begging for mercy. But Black Wind was different. Sabers were drawn across the decks, and the surrounding ships resumed fire support.

“Oh? Sword aura?”

Aura flared clearly along the pirates’ blades. Several 3rd hierarchy fighters. Their training showed — they held their footing on the deck with confidence.

— Kill her! Don’t give her a second!

And so the melee began — and ended just as quickly.

— Khaaaaaa!

Bang-bang-bang—!

The bodies of the charging pirates exploded simultaneously. Chest, neck, eyes. Blood vessels burst from within. Blood sprayed like fountains. Those few who managed to close the distance and swing—

Whsh—

Moon Wolf didn’t even bother to dodge. Flesh tore from her shoulder and side. But the moment crimson blood spilled—

The blood covering the deck began to swirl. Blood from the floor, blood from wounds, every drop suspended in the air.

Wooooosh—

All of it was drawn into Moon Wolf. Her wounds closed. Torn flesh fused smoothly. Complete regeneration.

— Mo... monster.

— Aaaa...

After that, it no longer mattered how ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) infamous or terrifying the pirates were.

— Run!!

— W-where?!

— Into the sea, jump!

— Jump!

Whiiish—

A crimson shadow cut across the panic-stricken deck and landed before the captain. Behind her, pirates trying to flee collapsed like cut straw.

— You damned... witch!!!

The captain swung his sword in desperation. Moon Wolf caught it with her bare hand. The blade, wrapped in aura—

Crack. It shattered.

— Damn it...

Boom—!

At that moment, the warship carrying Gunther and his companions rammed into another pirate vessel that was flailing in panic.

— Let’s clean up the trash.

Gunther, gripping “Straight Line of Despair,” vaulted easily over the railing.

***

“Now this is what I call ...”

Long live Moon Wolf. Standing on the flagship’s deck, Gunther felt it for the first time in a long while — that sensation when everything goes smoothly. How long had it been since he won so easily? Memories flickered of all the times he had to twist himself to the limit just to survive.

— ...It’d be nice to keep fighting side by side with the commander.

Moon Wolf, standing beside him, tilted her head in confusion. Her silver wolf mask shifted slightly, and the crimson eyes visible through its slits softened in an unfamiliar way.

— For a while, that will be the case. Right now, the Nameless and his platoon are a key pillar of Night Raven.

...More than reliable.

Moon Wolf lightly patted Gunther on the shoulder and immediately turned away.

— I’ll head inside. I feel a bit nauseous.

Probably from expending so much power — and then swallowing filthy pirate blood. Watching Moon Wolf leap and return to the warship, Gunther looked back at the deck. Time to deal with the spoils.

The loot from this battle broke down as follows:

First, a considerable amount of gold and jewels. Judging by the volume, they had already plundered more than one merchant vessel along the way. A treasure map was also found, marking locations where they had hidden their stolen goods.

Second, numerous ship-modification artifacts were captured. Devices that could significantly increase a vessel’s speed, spheres that corrected projectile trajectories to improve accuracy, and even crystalline cores that enhanced the power of defensive barriers. The variety and condition of the finds were impressive.

Parco had already lost his mind over them, completely absorbed. For someone obsessed with “transport,” a pile of upgrades for a sailing ship was pure bliss.

“The ship’s specs will improve. We’ll be stuck in Nereus waters for a few more weeks... this helps.”

But the next “loot” pleased Gunther far more.

— Thank you, thank you...

— We thought we’d be sold into slavery...

— Slavery? If Black Wind caught you, you wouldn’t even make it to shore...

The rescued people gathered at the edge of the deck. They looked poor, but physically they were fine. No signs of torture, and their complexions were healthy — they had been fed properly.

“...That’s not how slaves are treated.”

Gunther’s eyes narrowed.

“Then they’re sacrifices.”

As far as he knew, Black Wind was not just a band. It was an alliance of more than ten fleets. And at least this fleet was clearly working under contract with Luthien. With that in mind, Gunther approached the final “trophy.”

— ...

The pirate captain knelt. A massive man, skin weathered by sun and sea winds; faded tattoos covered his arms and neck. A typical sea raider. Rage radiated from him, heavy breaths tearing from his chest. Baring his teeth, he shouted:

— I’m the owner of the Black Thunder Cannon fleet! Everyone in Black Wind knows my name! I’m the nightmare of the open sea! A veteran among veterans! Aramak the Black Wind and I are sworn brothers!!!

His intensity made even those approaching hesitate for a moment. Gunther glanced down. A banner lay on the floor: beneath the Black Wind symbol, the image of a cannon was clearly visible.

— So— anything! — the captain shouted, baring his teeth. — Ask me anything! I’ll spill it all! The information I have is valuable! I’m saying I’m too valuable to kill!

...Silence fell. Ryan snorted first.

— ...Pirates. All the same.

— And here I thought he’d swing an axe, — Yuria muttered, setting aside the interrogation axe.

Gunther smirked and crouched in front of the captain.

— Fine. Then I’ll ask.

— ...Anything!

— Doesn’t Black Wind operate in the open sea? Why are you raiding merchant ships in coastal waters?

The coast belonged to Nereus’ privateer fleet and navy. Forget the navy — the Blue Blade privateers under the Great Admiral were elite, equal even to Black Wind.

“But something’s off...”

Gunther scanned the scattered luxury goods and piles of gold again. It didn’t look like the Black Thunder Cannon fleet had raided coastal traders just once or twice. Rampaging like this — and getting away with it?

“...What’s happening in Nereus?”

Gunther’s gaze turned cold. Nereus’ support was key to capturing Pendrox. And Nereus itself was the heart of the continent’s maritime trade. If it fell, the Union of Kingdoms would collapse.

— Speak, — Gunther’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. — How are you, who once didn’t dare show your noses for fear of the Great Admiral, acting so boldly in coastal waters?

A sharp, freezing killing intent cut through the air. The captain didn’t hesitate for even a second.

.

.

.

Ding!

[Information obtained about Act 2, Chapter 2: “Distorted Sea”]

[You have learned that a split has occurred within the Blue Blade privateer fleet that once protected the coasts of Nereus. Bonds that were once strong have rusted. Some of the Blue Blade warriors betrayed justice and defected to the pirates, while the Great Admiral suddenly departed for the open sea, after which contact was lost. Taking advantage of the collapse of the defense system, Black Wind infiltrated the coastal waters and began organized raids on merchant vessels.]

※ It has been confirmed that large amounts of wealth and sacrifices obtained through these raids are being supplied to Luthien.

[Scenario Objectives Summary:]

-Investigate the cause of the Blue Blade split.

-Track the whereabouts of the Great Admiral.

-Suppress Black Wind forces operating in coastal waters.

-Cut off the supply route leading to Luthien.

◆ Expected Rewards:

-Absolute support from the Kingdom of Nereus.

-Assistance from the Blue Blade privateer fleet in capturing Pendrox.

-The right to obtain Nereus’ most valuable treasure.